Workplace Wellness for Older Adults

Health behaviors adopted during employment could reduce Medicare expenditures among retirees. To improve health behaviors, we tested two health promotion interventions with older workers. The first intervention combines web-based risk assessments with an action plan that is negotiated with a “Coach” who provides personalized follow-up reinforcement. The second intervention is a web-based health risk assessment and risk profile with disease-specific follow-up reinforcement modules. Our RCT is assessing participant health behaviors, absenteeism, presenteeism and use and cost of health services at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Participants (N = 423) have a mean age of 51, ranging from 40-68. Approximately 80% are female, 62% are minority, and 81% reported at least one chronic condition. At baseline, 75% were overweight or obese. Analyses indicate that COACH participants experienced significant improvements on stress and health-related stress at 6 months, participation in moderate physical activity at 6 and 12 months, and on two diet variables: percent of energy from fat at 6 and 12 months and intake of fruits and vegetables at 12 months. Analyses of data on intervention use indicate that COACH participants used the program more extensively than RealAge participants. Findings from this study will provide insight into the development and implementation of cost-effective health promotion programs for our burgeoning number of older workers. We will also describe a follow-up study designed to examine ways to enhance workplace wellness program translation by understanding the ways to package and market programs, and address barriers and facilitators to adoption, implementation, and maintenance.